A marriage in name only...To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he’s offers Alexa a bold proposition.A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

My Take:

Finding a man is tough, especially one with some cash of hand, whats even more tough is finding one who wants you for you. For Alexa making a love potion was the last shot she made all she had to do was write down what she wanted and poof he was sure to come. Nick Ryan needs a bride like yesterday, and he needs someone who doesn't want him, all he needs is for the marriage to last one year. What he got instead was Alexa and she was the opposite of what he needed, for her Nick had nothing from her list she knew the universe was wrong to send her to him. Nick offers a bargain she wouldn't be able to refuse, money. She needs it for her family, and he needs to keep his job so with that in mind they set to marry in a week. The agreement is that 1 year and they go their separate ways. What Nick didn't factor in was falling for the one he calls wife.

For Alexa, keeping her heart close is hard, especially with someone like Nick, who is someone she once said, "I love you." Keeping her at a distance is the only thing helping Nick concentrate, but with their sexual chemistry its hard to keep up the distance. Its when Nick thinks allowing Alexa in that he starts to change his mind and than because of her actions, he is back to that cold edge of his. Falling head over heels in love with Nick is hard because she knows he will simply walk away, but would she be able to walk just like that, not likely. When a man offers you a deal of a lifetime its hard not to see why he is offering it in the first place. To top everything the only person who knows about the bargain is Maggie who is her best friend and Nick's sister. Her family has no clue and even though she tries to keep up a front a year is all she has to change his mine.

The Marriage Bargain is an amazing story that has you reading up late because you need to finish and hope for a beautiful ending. Alexa is so strong even though she doesn't know and keeps comparing herself to models. She knows his type and even though she cares for the man, its hard not be nail biting until the end. With each page you felt that Nick was finally able to let someone in and one thing happens and he is back to his normal self. The first few kisses they have will leave any reader wanting more and curse those interrupting them from continuing those cops man. I loved every minute of this and I have to send a shout out to the Smut Monday club for this recommendation, they know how to pick them. Of course so looking forward to the next in the series because Maggie and the Count are totally hot.